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Safety Question: How high should container be lifted?

Number of messages: 9

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Harvest
British Columbia, Canada

Hello,
I have a safety question: Our container yard has two reachstackers - soon to be three. I am now Operations Manager... when I was trained as a reachstacker driver, I was told: lift the container 10 feet with the boom retracted, then start transporting it. I am getting a fair bit of resistance from some new operators who want to lift the container about three feet off the ground and then start moving the machine.

There are clear instructions in the Kalmar DRF-450 that we have to do this. I believe this should be a standard operation procedure because of increased visibility, reduced risk of hitting other containers, and improved stability (COG). Am I right? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Posted 9 Jun 2009 06:44 PM

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joseph_h
Michigan, United States

Harvest:

The following guidelines apply to forklift training in British Columbia, Canada:

1) Work Safe BC Guidelines Part 16;
2) Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B335-94, Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training.

Link: (h (double t) p://
www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/OHSRegulation/GuidelinePart16.asp

Guidelines G 16: “G16.7(j)-1 Lift truck operator training

Issued April 25, 2002; Editorial Revision June 2005; Editorial Revision August 13, 2008

Regulatory excerpt
Section 16.7(j) of the OHS Regulation ("Regulation") states:

The design, fabrication, use, inspection and maintenance of mobile equipment must meet the requirements of the following applicable standard:

(j) Lift Truck Operator training: CSA Standard B335-94, Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training."

CSA B335-94: "4.1.4 Manufacturer's Operating Manual

The trainee shall be instructed on the following:

(b) Operating information contained in the operating manuals for those lift trucks and attachments being trained on and used.

(c) Operating instructions as outlined by the employer."

The training portion of CSA B335-04, Safety Standard for Lift Trucks, can be used as an alternative:

CSA B335-04: “6.4 Operating Manual

The trainee shall be instructed on the following:

(b) information contained in the operating manuals for those lift trucks and attachments being trained on and used: and

(c) operating procedures in the event that the operator manual is unavailable. "

I recommend you establish the procedure in the Kalmar operator manual as the company procedure and enforce the procedure. Operators, new or old, should not be deciding the operating procedures.

Modified 11 Jun 2009 08:11 AM
by poster.

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Normandy
Co. Cork, Ireland

Well done Joseph.

A comprehensive and Localized response.

Harvest, I suggest that you follow his advice as it is very unlikely it will cause you any grief.

He is also correct in saying Operators no matter how good they are should not make the rules, If something goes wrong lawyers will have a field day

Posted 10 Jun 2009 07:06 PM

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joseph_h
Michigan, United States

Harvest:

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has a web site allowing any CSA standard referenced by a Canadian governmental OHS program to be reviewed (view-only) online without having to purchase the document. It will also indicate any new edition of a standard if the standard referenced has been revised and not yet referenced by the governmental OSH agency.

Google: (ohsviewaccess.csa.ca/ ) or (View CSA Standards Referenced in OHS Regulations - Welcome) to review CSA B335-94: Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training or CSA B335-04 Safety Standard for Lift Trucks. Register and search the jurisdiction British Columbia.

Posted 11 Jun 2009 08:14 AM

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Harvest
British Columbia, Canada

Great, thanks for your help - very helpful...On a slightly different topic, can anyone recommend any trainers in BC (Vancouver area?)

Posted 11 Jun 2009 09:46 AM

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joseph_h
Michigan, United States

Harvest:

Contact: British Columbia Safety Council: www (dot) safetycouncil.bc.ca

British Columbia Safety Council
#2225-21331 Gordon Way
Richmond, BC, Canada
V6W 1J9
Phone 6042147433
Fax 6042147434

Contact: Ives Training Group: h (double t) p://www (dot) ivestraining.com/

Canadian Office:
IVES Training Ltd.
IVES Publication Ltd.
Unit 102 - 19162 - 22 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3S 3S6
Phone: 6045424837
Fax: 6045424867

Modified 11 Jun 2009 05:51 PM
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Normandy
Co. Cork, Ireland

Joseph H

would you please email me I have a question I want to ask but don't wish to raise here,

Thanks

NDAMERYATTRIDENT>IE

Posted 11 Jun 2009 06:29 PM

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Harvest
British Columbia, Canada

thanks

Modified 11 Jun 2009 07:34 PM
by poster.

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finn_r
New South Wales, Australia

ok this is  where i come in handy.
i hope you are working on a hardstand concrete yard.
and the guys are not compensating for uneven ground.
in wich case i might do the same travelling tru large potholes, but if the yard is ok then
youmight  have some dangerous inexperienced guys working there!(wich is a hazard to themselves and others)
a operator should only travel forward with the bottom of the container visible to their line of sight.(i hope those guys don,t work at night)
every once in a while you will come across a super heavy container wich is not possible to lift,this is when i travel backwards with the box just of the ground
anyway travelling height varies a little depending on your own height.(you must be able to  look under the container and not go over the top of anything at all)
make sure the seat is correctly adjusted to the weight of the operator.
considering how inexperienced they sound,they should also retract the slew function on the spreader when travelling with a  hooked up container.
to dot the i,s and cross the t,s
approach the stacks to be loaded into with the containers at line of sight (height).and in reverse when loading out of the stacks.
stop the machine before starting to lift to the desired stack height .
and they should not argue with their superiors.
this is where inductions come in handy.
as you can remind them what the yards agreements were before they started.
how high should loaded containers be stacked?(i know you didnt ask this but now you got me going)
sometimes you will end up working on dirt and i have  learned that if the ground is uneven  4 boxes high with a 35 tonne load each is going to damage the box on the ground
its better to stack boxes 3 high when they are this heavy as they will not damage/buckle the box on the ground
you may let them read this,and if they disagree, you can sack em on the spot and i,m willing to come and work for you.
i hope to be of some help
regards finn.

-------------------------
safety = everything so everyone goes home again at the end of the day.

Modified 12 Jun 2009 09:31 PM
by poster.

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